What's on this weekend in Melbourne

Discover things to do in Melbourne this weekend, from free events to exhibitions, attractions and places to visit.

The NGV and Arts Centre lit up on a winter night.

Best Now or Never events on this weekend

Red laser beams dance across the water’s surface,
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Multimmersion: Upside Down V2

A contemplative exploration of light, space and reflection transforms the Yarra River – Birrarung.

Still from an immersive cinematic experience featuring surreal architecture and drawings of humans transformed into video.
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XYZZY REDUX

Experience projections on the façade of Hamer Hall.

Melbourne city skyline illuminated at night, viewed across the Yarra River, with a bridge in the middle-ground shrouded in mist.
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The Falls Before Us

Evan Walker Bridge vanishes in a dense mist.

The Dome reading room of State Library Victoria showing the upper level balconies, and rows of desk fanning out from the centre, all bathed in a pink light.

Library Up Late x Now or Never

State Library Victoria transforms after-dark for Now or Never with music, art and innovation.

Light beams form geometric planes and vast three-dimensional environments.
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PRESENCE

A totalising encounter of lasers and sound.

A pianist in a white road plays the piano while looking upwards, holographic shapes flowing in the background.

Philip Glass: Piano Etudes + In the Upper Room

A unique concert experience celebrating the legacy of visionary composer Philip Glass.

Large brass percussion instruments installed on a wall in a darkened gallery space.
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Revivification

What happens to creativity when it is no longer bound to a living body?

This weekend

An ice hockey player in blue, skating on an ice hockey rink.
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Melbourne Ice: Australian Ice Hockey League

The Melbourne Ice are gearing up to face off against the best in the nation's premier league.

A group of six actors and actresses standing in a line in front of a purple branding board with MIFF printed on it.
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Melbourne International Film Festival

Experience eye-opening cinema at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Famed actors Anthony LaPaglia and Alison Whyte on stage during a performance of Death of a Salesman.
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Death of a Salesman

Anthony LaPaglia reprises his role as Willy Loman in this timeless Pulitzer Prize-winning classic.

A performer wearing a white trench coat and a pig's snout nose, carrying a chicken head mask under one arm, her other arm raised above her head, standing on a stage in front of a yellow curtain.
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Animal Farm

George Orwell’s classic allegory is unleashed - this isn’t the farm you thought you knew.

A group of people gathered for a group shot, some in Indian dress.
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Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

Experience Indian cinema's largest annual celebration in the southern hemisphere.

A shaft of light coming from above adn casting a shadow of roses against a deep orange wall.
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Threads of Love

Celebrate love, connection and culture through art, workshops and community activities.

Woman wearing black gloves, holding up a jar with a spiny creature inside.
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National Science Week

Take part in hands-on science, expert encounters and fun discoveries.

A Collingwood Magpies AFL player kicking a yellow football during a game.

AFL Round 24: Collingwood v Brisbane Lions

Don’t miss out on seeing Collingwood take on the Brisbane Lions live at the MCG.

Many silhouettes of people on a a stage with a stage backdrop of buildings in yellow and green tones.

Metropolis: Sounds of Cinema

Showcasing the MSO’s commitment to contemporary symphonic music.

East Melbourne library exterior with large glass-paned facade and porch doorway.

East Melbourne Library 20th Birthday

Enjoy live jazz, free BBQ, children's activities, workshops and library tours.

Two individuals enjoying themselves dancing at a crowded outdoor bar.

A Big Winter Party

Section 8 is bringing the snow to Melbourne with their big winter party.

A child holding a tiny plant in a small white pot, plants in the background.
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Seed Stories

Designed for children aged 5+, this 45-minute workshop uncovers the hidden science within seeds.

A Melbourne Demons AFL player with his hands up in the middle of the ground during a game.

AFL Round 24: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs

Watch Melbourne take on the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Saturday.

An indoor stage with traditional Indonesian gamelan instruments, including large gongs and metallophones, illuminated by dramatic red lighting.

Nongkrong Festival: The Dome at Gerhana

Three live experimental music acts from Indonesian artists in The Dome of Mission to Seafarers.

An indoor musical performance on a stage with large gong-like instruments under red lighting, with the audience seated on the floor.

Nongkrong Festival: Gerhana

Celebrate with Indonesian music, performances, a shadow puppet workshop, and food.

An outdoor event space at Harbour Esplanade Docklands, featuring a large screen broadcasting a sports match to an audience seated in colorful bean bags.
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The Street Social: Winter Warmer

Melbourne's favourite waterfront experience is back again with Winter Warmer.

A still image from the short film Wallace and Gromit – A Grand Day Out, showing the two leads walking across the surface of the moon with their rocket ship behind them.

Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out with live Brass Band

Spend the school holidays reliving the magic of Wallace and Gromit with a live band accompaniment.

A hand holding a small cup of tea, in the foreground are more small cups of tea and a ceramic pot.

Mindful Meets: A Tea Omakase & Breath Experience

An intentional morning of tea tasting, grounding breath practice, and gratitude sharing.

Balls of coloured yarn in a knitted soft basket.

Knitting: Beginner 101

Learn to knit in a supportive and nurturing environment.

Regular weekend events

A group of six actors and actresses standing in a line in front of a purple branding board with MIFF printed on it.
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Melbourne International Film Festival

Experience eye-opening cinema at the Melbourne International Film Festival.

Visitors enjoying an evening event at the National Gallery of Victoria, seated on stools under shadowy lighting.
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NGV Friday Nights: Cartier

NGV Friday Nights shine with Cartier, featuring live music, flims, food and drinks.

Singers and dancers on a theatre stage in a scene from A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, with spotlights and stage sets.
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A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical

An inspiring, exhilarating, energetic musical memoir.

An ancient Roman marble bust with its nose chipped off, displayed on a small square plinth.
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Rome: Empire, Power, People

This Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is a vibrant exploration of Ancient Rome.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
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The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

An exquisite Cartier diamond tiara, suspended against a black background.
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Melbourne Winter Masterpieces: CARTIER

Featuring nearly 400 extraordinary jewellery objects, alongside rare archival materials.

Animator and filmmaker Adam Elliot working on a claymation set, adjusting characters.
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Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

A dark interior space, with smoky purple rounds of light, silhouettes of people's arms pushing into these open spaces.
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Imaginator

An immersive experience that celebrates imagination, technology and play.

A plate of fluffy pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate over the top.
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Chocolate Family Adventure Day

Enjoy an all-inclusive, stress-free family outing filled with fun, creativity, and delicious treats.

A small tour group looking up from the ground floor of the La Trobe Reading Room.
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State Library Victoria Unlocked

On this exclusive tour, gain access to State Library Victoria before the doors open to the public.

Man holding an old-fashioned lantern outside illuminated Flinders St Station at night, wearing a suit and cap.
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Hidden Melbourne: Ghosts, Murder and Mystery

Take a spine-chilling journey back in time to explore the rich paranormal realm of Old Melbourne.

Black and white photograph from the 1960s of model, Twiggy, wearing a mini-dress at the Melbourne Cup.
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Swinging 60s

This exhibition looks at what it was like to live in Victoria during the 1960s.

A group of people on a guided walk of the Royal Botanic Gardens, with trees in the background.
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Free Guided Walk

A free guided walk is the perfect way to enjoy the sunny weather in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Three ballerinas on a darkened stage in glowing tutu dresses.
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Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show

The classic fairytale is reimagined with glow-in-the-dark costumes and luminous staging.

The shopfront of a Japanese-style craft workshop with brightly coloured craft materials on shelves and a neon sign.
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DIY Craft Workshops

Unleash your creativity at these workshops where everyone is a designer.

A stand-up comedian talking into a microphone they hold in their hand, performing live on stage.
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Main Stage: Stand-Up Comedy

Have a laugh with stand-up comedy from Australia's best comedians, plus international drop-ins.

Three people on a walking tour with a Fit City tour guide, two carrying a takeaway coffee.
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Laneways and Lattes Walking Tour

Explore Melbourne’s hidden laneways with coffee, street art, history and culture.

Two actors wearing formal clothes in a spotlight on a theatre stage during a performance of Pretty Woman: The Musical.
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Pretty Woman: The Musical

A dazzling stage adaptation of one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time.

The lobby of a comedy venue, with a blue velvet couch and red curtains.
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Sunday Night Stand Up Comedy Show

See some of Melbourne's best stand-up comedy, every Sunday night.

A person in a gallery setting looking at a sculpture of an oversize wooden pipe with a sculpture of a giant peeled mandarin balanced on the pipe.
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Poetry Goes No Further Than Language

Explore a moment in mid-1980s China when a group of artists began to question values about art.

Two people on a stage giving each other a high five, one also holding a microphone.
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Comedy at the Coopers Inn

A comedy club featuring the best local, interstate and international stand-up comedians.

Workshop class participants smiling in a studio setting, holding up mosaic pots and coasters they have made.
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Mosaic Making Workshop for Beginners

Learn the art of creating beautiful mosaics from start to finish.

A group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.
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Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

Workshop participants smiling and holding multicoloured mosaic tiled coasters.
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Colourful Mosaic Coaster Workshop

Come and make mosaic coasters and step into the world of colours.

A close up of flower made from enamel craft
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Cloisonne Enamel Painting Workshop for Beginners

Create a unique drink coaster using the ancient cloisonné art.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.
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Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

People looking up at the trees on a guided walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
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Aboriginal Heritage Walk

Wominjeka: journey into Melbourne Gardens with an Aboriginal guide.

Two people standing in front of a large pink spiky wall of speakers in an exhibition space.
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Reverb: A Journey into Sound

ACMI and RISING present Reverb: A Journey Into Sound, a major exhibition of vinyl culture and music.

Cheese and wine display on a table near a window.
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High Cheese

A bold, new three-tiered journey inspired by fire and water.

Table set with food and drinks next to potted palms.
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Fern’s Hidden Winter Garden

Melbourne's most-booked winter escape blooms into spring.

Installation view of the Spartans & Anzacs exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance, with people walking around the space, reading panels and looking at displays.
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Spartans & Anzacs

This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict.

Two young adults observing a sculpture in a gallery space with digital and scupltural displays.
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EMERGENCE[Y]

An exhibition exploring how adaptation in a world of flux unfolds in every layer of life.

A solar eclipse, with light emerging around the edges of the blacked-out sun.
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Solar Tours

Come and experience the wonders of the Sun at the historic Melbourne Observatory.

Visitors walking through a 3D simulation of the cosmos using wireless VR headsets.
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Starstruck

Smithsonian Starstruck is an immersive 3D journey to the cosmos.

A large group of people in active wear all running on a path in park.
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Run the Tan: Run Club

Start the weekend off on the right foot with a run around the Tan.

Market stallholder with her puppet toys, beside the Yarra River in the CBD.
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Southbank Makers Market

Explore the Southbank Makers Market every Sunday on the promenade at Southgate.

Looking over a blurred shoulder at a table with books displayed.
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World of the Book

Experience the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exibition.

A woman on a stepladder in a garden pours water from a watering can over a man standing below.
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Uncle Vanya

Chekhov’s timeless tale, full of mordant wit, unrequited love and longing, finds new life.

A group of people seated in a small, intimate venue with red lighting and small red lamps on tables.
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Comedy Fridays at Piper's Playhouse

A fresh line-up of leading Australian comedians, alongside surprise guest appearances.

Six female performers on a purple lit stage in costumes and striking poses, all singing into microphones they hold in their hands.
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SIX the Musical

SIX the Musical makes its royal stage return to Melbourne's Comedy Theatre.

A yellow vintage phone on a wooden table illuminated by a desk lamp, part of an interactive theatre installation at the Malthouse Theatre.
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The Nightline

A crafted theatrical audio-installation experience inspired by late-night anonymous voice messages.

A group of people gathered for a group shot, some in Indian dress.
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Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

Experience Indian cinema's largest annual celebration in the southern hemisphere.

Novelty wind-up chattering teeth against a yellow background.
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Basement Comedy Club: Weekend Showcase

Bringing you the biggest names and best comedians in the country, and beyond.

A lighting display that shows a red design with a square and a light above and below.
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Now or Never

Twelve days of art, ideas, music and technology await - a festival of new dimensions.

Black and white photograph of a busy Melbourne city intersection with trams, cars, people crossing the road, and buildings, dating from around the 1950s or 1960s.
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Making Modern Melbourne

This free exhibition examines the tumultuous twentieth century in Melbourne.

Violinist Augusta McKay Lodge looking over her shoulder holding her violin in her right hand.
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Vivaldi's Legacy: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

The woman who inspired Vivaldi. The story history almost forgot.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
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Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

Characters from the PAW Patrol TV series performing live on a theatre stage, with streamers in the air above them and a large audience watching them.
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PAW Patrol Live: Race to the Rescue

The beloved pups of PAW Patrol hit the stage in this interactive live show.

Two different hands holding two wine glasses, resting on a restaurant's dining table, a plate of food and napkins also on the table.
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Mystery Sidedoor City: Wine and Asian Fusion Bites

Enjoy off-menu bites and paired drinks at a hidden Melbourne venue on this guided tasting adventure.

Four women standing and holding up small mosaic lamps in front of a circular neon sign.
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Mosaic Art Classes Melbourne: Turkish Lamp Workshop

Make beautiful mosaic lamps at this Turkish lamp workshop

A little girl looking at a colourful display of cushions in an art gallery.
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Children's Play: Ragnar Kjartansson

A new children's exhibition by Ragnar Kjartansson, inspired by the idea of a theatrical feast.

A delicately painted porcelain plate with a blue design depicting waves around the outside and a burning landscape in the centre.
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Margaret Ackland: Reflections

Margaret Ackland’s elegant still lifes serve up the uneasy truths of contemporary life.

See all events on this weekend

More to explore

People milling around Fed Square at sunset.

What's on today

Discover free events, epic festivals and shows on in Melbourne today.

A night tennis match at Rod Laver Arena.

Major events

From the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup, major events take centre stage throughout the year.

Lasers reflecting over water

What's free in Melbourne this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in Melbourne for free this month.

A chef cooking meat skewers over a flaming grill.
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What's on in November

Things to do in Melbourne in November, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.